This blog is all about the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008. A well-intentioned piece of legislation enacted in August of 2008 which effectively stops resale of all items (for use by children 12 and under) that cannot be proven to meet the new lead and phthalate standards. This law will also make home based crafting businesses follow these same requirements and effectively put them out of business.

Thursday, April 2, 2009

Letter from CPSC toxicologist

I got the following quick response to a question I asked a CPSC toxicologist regarding a document referenced by Thepoptort.com blog allegedly showing how CPSC dismissed effect of CPSIA on small business. Turns out that document was only speaking to a procedure, not the actual law. I thank Kris for the quick reply clarifying the ruling. Here is the reply:

Dear Ms. Ballas,

Thank you for your message. The FR notice that you quote from is for a specific Commission rulemaking. This rule establishes formal procedures that companies may follow to request certain actions by the Commission. The economic analysis refers only to the potential impacts on businesses that might chose to prepare a request. It certainly does *not* refer to the impacts of the federal law--the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008--which as you state has significant impacts on businesses.

3 comments:

Interesting that the CPSC has "toxicologists" doubling up their duties with PR these days. Nancy Nord really should have accepted Congress's offer to double her budget. http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/30/washington/30consumer.html?_r=1&scp=1&sq=Bigger%20Budget?%20No,%20Responds%20Safety%20Agency%20&st=cse Regardless, with all due respect, your "procedure/law" remark sounds like a distinction without a difference. The law requires that the CPSC implement the law--which includes "procedures." Finally, thanks so much for reading ThePopTort. Here's the latest CPSIA post, by the way...http://www.thepoptort.com/2009/04/myth-tally-from-the-cpsia-rally.html

You and your friends at the New York Times have a real knack for pulling specific pieces of items out of context to try to skew the real message. Nord was never against budget increases for the CPSC, she was against the regulations that surrounded those additional funds knowing how harmful those regulations are. She is an unusual department head who puts the best interests of others ahead of her own. With all due respect, I would not expect you to admit how your misquoting a document does indeed make a difference. And finally, thank you for continuing to visit all the CPSIA blogs that actually explain how this poorly written law continues to cause real harm to real people. Yes, real people ... not those who hide behind fake names.